The interplay between parental care and OPRM1 in reward responsiveness

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022 Sep:143:105845. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105845. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Abstract

The Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) explains a variety of reward-motivated behaviors as the result of the activation of biologically-based systems. Inspired by the influences of parental bonding and opioid peptide on reward system, we investigated the contributions of parental bonding and mu-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) towards motivation systems (i.e., the BAS, BIS-anxiety, and FFFS-fear). Results indicated that (1) parental care was negatively related to FFFS-fear, but parental overprotection was positively related to both FFFS-fear and BIS-anxiety; (2) parental care significantly interacted with OPRM1 rs1799971 in reward responsiveness with diathesis-stress model. Poor parental care reduced reward responsiveness among individuals with the G allele, but not those with the AA genotype. These findings from this study demonstrate a new gene-environment interactive mechanism of the RST.

Keywords: Gene-environment interaction; Mu-opioid receptor; Parental care; Parental overprotection; Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory; Reward responsiveness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / genetics
  • Fear
  • Humans
  • Motivation
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / genetics
  • Reinforcement, Psychology*
  • Reward*

Substances

  • OPRM1 protein, human
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu